Find out how popular the last name Gillingham is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gillingham.

Gillingham, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gillingham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillingham in America

Gillingham is the 15063rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillingham surname appeared 1,959 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gillingham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillingham to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gillingham

The surname Gillingham is of English origin and is derived from the place name Gillingham, which is found in several counties across England, including Dorset, Kent, and Norfolk. The name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "Gil" or "Gyl," meaning a ravine or a deep valley, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village.

The earliest known record of the surname Gillingham can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Gillingeham" in the county of Dorset. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gillingham was Robert de Gillingham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1230. Another notable figure was Sir John Gillingham, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century and served as a knight in the service of King Edward III.

In the 16th century, the surname Gillingham appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1576, where a John Gillingham was listed as a taxpayer. Around the same time, a Thomas Gillingham was recorded as a freeman of the City of London in 1585.

During the 17th century, the Gillingham family established themselves in the county of Dorset, where they owned estates and land. One prominent member was Sir Benjamin Gillingham (1616-1683), who served as a Member of Parliament for Dorset and was knighted by King Charles II in 1663.

Another notable individual with the surname Gillingham was Samuel Gillingham (1688-1768), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Whitchurch in Buckinghamshire. He is remembered for his work "A Practical Exposition of the Church-Catechism," published in 1743.

In the 19th century, the Gillingham surname gained further prominence with individuals such as Joseph Gillingham (1800-1873), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Andrew in Holborn and the Garrick Theatre.

Overall, the surname Gillingham has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, religion, and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillingham

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gillingham.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gillingham was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gillingham has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gillingham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gillingham, please contact us.

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